Computed tomography versus fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the evaluation of bronchial disease

ABSTRACT

CT was compared to fiberoptic bronchoscopy [FOB] in 41 cases in which local airway disease was identified with FOB and in 30 patients in whom the airway appeared normal at bronchoscopy. CT was positive in 38 of 41 cases in which lesions were detected at FOB and in 60 [90%] of 67 lesions in the results are analyzed according to the extent of the involvement of the individual bronchi. CT excluded disease if 27 [90%] of 30 cases that were verified to be normal by FOB. The diagnosis of malignancy was not missed in any case by CT. While extremely accurate in detecting focal lesions CT was inaccurate in predicting whether a given abnormality was endobronchial, submucosal or peribronchial. In conclusion CT is helpful when bronchoscopy is contraindicated or refused. CT may also be used in cases with low clinical suspicion of endobronchial disease and as an adjuvant procedure to FOB for outlining the exact location of major mediastinal and hilar vessels, lymph nodes and tumour in relation to adjacent airways